Accessible communications
Government information should be as accessible and inclusive as possible. Something can be accessible to some people, for example, a video or a tweet, while being inaccessible to others. This page covers where to get support and help, the legal requirements and how to get different formats of content accessible.
On this page:
Your accessibility questions answered
To crowdsource your accessibility questions, develop your knowledge and get advice and support, be part of the government accessibility community.
You could also join one or more Civil Service networks, including the Civil Service and Public Sector Neurodiversity Network and on Twitter @psneurodiverse.
Creating accessible communications
Accessibility requirements for public sector bodies
Public sector organisations have a legal duty to make websites and mobiles apps accessible.
Find out how your organisation is impacted.
Help your team understand why they need to meet the website and mobile app accessibility regulations. This blog also has helpful tips on making great accessible mobile apps.
Create accessible social media campaigns
Explore quick and simple ways you can improve the accessibility of social media campaigns – from planning through to publishing – to make them more effective and help you reach more of the people you need to.
Accessible communication formats
To reach all your audience, you need to make effective use of accessible communication formats (also known as alternative formats). Involve relevant experts, consider the needs of your audience in advance (for example, will they need Braille or Easy Read).
Accessible communication format (GOV.UK)
Using British Sign Language and creating an Easy Read version (GDS blog)
Use the accessibility checker
To help ensure that your Office files are accessible, use the Accessibility Checker, a free tool available in Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, and PowerPoint:
Making your content accessible
Accessible videos
- planning audio and video media: the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops international standards for the Web: HTML, CSS, and many more. Find out about media player
- Adding an audio description to your videos
- making videos accessible (GOV.UK)
Accessible tables
Accessible diagrams, charts and maps
- designing a more accessible flood map from Defra digital
- writing for the web – web accessibility from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Accessible spreadsheets
- how to make spreadsheet accessible, check Releasing statistics in spreadsheets (YouTube video in section 5), from the Government Statistical Service
- making Excel spreadsheets accessible (Microsoft)
Accessible images
- W3C image decision tree will help you describe images, graphs and photos by adding an alt-text , or alternative text, which is a desciption of images for people who use a screen reader software
- everything you need to know to write effective alt text (Microsoft)
Accessible link or URLs
- links and Hypertext – Link Text and Appearance (WebAIM) explains why you need to avoid ‘click here’ and ‘read more’
- link shorteners: the long and short of why you shouldn’t use them
Learning and resources
Learning about accessibility is a journey, not a project. Assistive technology is always evolving and communicators need to stay up to date with these developments so they can focus on the user needs.